Bet on defending champ Kaymer retaining his Abu Dhabi title

Mickelson graces the European Tour with his presence in a strong Abu Dhabi field

The European Tour heads to the Middle East after the recent sojourn to South Africa, and what a field it has brought with it.

The field is so strong that the 2010 Race to Dubai winner and USPGA Champion Martin Kaymer just heads the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship betting market at 8/1, with Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy in close attendance at 10/1.

Kaymer is the defending champion and is definitely the man to beat as his last three starts in Abu Dhabi has seen the German finish first, second and first.

But with many of the top stars, including Kaymer, making their first start of the season, the race is wide open and plenty of names are in with a shout this week.

Graeme McDowell continues to be overpriced at 16/1 in the Abu Dhabi Golf betting, and considering he has already maintained his form of 2010 with a third place finish in Hawaii, McDowell is definitely one to consider.

The South African golfers have dominated the opening month of the 2011 European Tour season and Charl Schwartzel (33/1) continued his remarkable form with a win in the Joburg Open on Sunday.

But the pick of the South African golfers is Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen who has impressive form in Abu Dhabi, finishing fifth and second in his last two visits there, and Oosthuizen is available at 16/1 to win.

Two of the most talented youngsters in world golf take to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club this week and while McIlroy (10/1) loves it in Abu Dhabi – he averages 68.42 a round – it may be worth a punt on Matteo Manassero (40/1) who finished 2010 as the rookie of the year.

Further down the betting Rhys Davies (125/1) will be looking for a strong start to his year, and Thomas Aiken (80/1) was impressive in Johannesburg last week.

A £25 stake on Lee Westwood winning would return £250. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.

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Robbie studied sports journalism at the University of Gloucestershire, an establishment chosen for its proximity to Cheltenham racecourse, where he was a season ticket holder. Upon graduation, Robbie was a contributor to GolfPunk, a national magazine aimed at ridding golf of its traditionalist image, before joining the news.ladbrokes team.

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